Candidates discuss future growth, Weddington Corners

WEDDINGTON – The Weddington Town Council could have three new faces on the board come December, with the mayor seat and two council seats up for election.

To help residents with the decisions they will make when voting on Election Day, Nov. 5, for the candidates they want to represent them for the next four years, Union County Weekly has reached out to candidates in Weddington, focusing on issues like relationships with other municipalities’ leaders, development and more.

Mayoral candidate Bill Deter and District 3 candidate Michael Smith did not respond to questions by press deadline.

See the candidates’ answers to previous questions, as well as responses from candidates in Stallings, Waxhaw, Marvin, Indian Trail and Wesley Chapel, online at www.unioncountyweekly.com. See next week’s paper for another look at candidates in Waxhaw.

Have questions you want to ask candidates in your town? Send them to the Union County Weekly by emailing news@union countyweekly.com.

How do you plan to work with other local leaders in surrounding municipalities to plan for future growth and infrastructure in western Union County, if at all?

I will work collaboratively with the leaders of neighboring municipalities and county and state officials to represent Weddington’s requirements for infrastructure and other services. I will meet regularly with these leaders to understand their communities’ needs and to serve as Weddington’s advocate and ambassador. I will help develop solutions that work for Weddington and the region. I have already met with, or am working to schedule meetings with, the mayors of Wesley Chapel, Stallings and Mineral Springs and the mayors pro tem of Waxhaw and Marvin. I have met council members from Marvin and Lake Park. In addition, I have met with our state delegates Rep. Craig Horn and Sen. Tommy Tucker. I will meet with county commissioners before the election, their schedules permitting.

What roles have you played in local organizations or groups that will lend to your work on Weddington Town Council?

I have served on the Providence Volunteer Fire Department board for three years and am currently vice-president. I have worked closely with Weddington’s leaders to ensure our citizens receive high-quality emergency services. I was president of the Providence Woods homeowner’s association for three years. We ran a balanced budget, added to reserves and addressed the majority of property owners’ desires. I have negotiated contracts with many public sector organizations and have 23 years management experience.

The Weddington Corners shopping center is the town’s main hub for commercial development. What steps would you take, if elected, to bring in new businesses and retain businesses already in the center?

The town can best support Weddington Corners by bringing energy and visibility to the area. I have spoken with the development’s owners and they agree. Working collaboratively on events such as the Weddington Country Festival will bring people and visibility to town center. Weddington can offer event sponsorships to local businesses as well as fee advertising in the town’s newsletter and website. The town has provided better access to Weddington Corners by allowing the rear entrance from Weddington-Matthews Road on town property. I will work to continue the positive relationship between the town and Weddington Corners.

Weddington Town Council District 1

Don Titherington
704-846-4109
DonTitherington@carolina.rr.com

How do you plan to work with other local leaders in surrounding municipalities to plan for the future growth and infrastructure in western Union County, if at all?

Since Weddington is part of the western Union County community, I will work with neighboring towns on relevant issues. There are several areas of concern for our town that need to be addressed to benefit all citizens. For example, town council will vote on the Weddington water tower, which also will serve Waxhaw and Marvin, at the October meeting without engaging the community to look at effective alternatives. The only focus of the conversation has been low water pressure in the north end of town. This pressure problem must be fixed. What has been left out of the conversation is the fact that the vast majority of Weddington’s citizens are on private wells and there is no plan to provide water to them in the event of well failure. Town council should have addressed both of these issues as well as pursued water tanks, instead of a tower, to lessen the impact on our town.
Traffic on Providence Road also is an issue that affects Weddington, Marvin and Waxhaw. The congestion on Providence at Rea Road needs to be addressed with the North Carolina Department of Transportation in conjunction with Waxhaw and Marvin.

What roles have you played in local organizations or groups that will lend to your work on Weddington Town Council?

With my involvement in various roles with the Wesley Chapel Weddington Athletic Association over the past decade, my neighborhood homeowner’s association board and with the local Boy Scout troop, I have witnessed the power and dedication of volunteers. Our town has many people who believe in making Weddington a better place for this generation and, more importantly, the next. I would build bridges with local volunteers and groups by encouraging their participation in town government.

The Weddington Corners shopping center is the town’s main hub for commercial development. What steps would you take, if elected, to bring in new business and retain business in the center?

In the land-use survey, 78.8 percent of the respondents stated: “Limiting non-residential growth is very important or important.” If town council follows this directive to keep commercial development at town center, then Weddington Corners will continue to be successful.

Werner Thomisser
704-654-6100
thomisser@aol.com

How do you plan to work with other leaders in surrounding municipalities to plan for future growth and infastructure in western Union County, if at all?

As previously stated, “experience counts.” I have had the pleasure over the past four years of working with the mayors of Marvin, Mineral Springs, Waxhaw, Wesley Chapel and Stallings along with the mayors pro tem of Wesley Chapel, Marvin and Waxhaw on issues such as transportation, local government, libraries and public safety. I will continue to do so with emphasis on transportation, water and sewer and public safety.

What roles have you played in local organizations or groups that will lend to your work on the Weddington Town Council?

I am currently a member of CCOG (Centralina Council of Governments), which is involved with economic development, environmental stewardship, land-use planning and transportation. I also have worked with MUMPO on transportation issues. Prior to elected office, I was neighborhood watch chairman of my subdivision dealing with public safety issues.

The Weddington Corners shopping center is the town’s main hub for commercial development. What steps would you take, if elected, to bring in new businesses and retain businesses already in the center?

The Weddington Corners shopping center has not fully reached its maximum potential, and I would certainly not encourage any external competition to negatively impact their businesses. They are limited to the northeast area of Providence Road and N.C. 84, and we must work with the owners and individual businesses to increase sales. We should not place any additional restrictions to hinder their growth.

Weddington Town Council District 3

Dan Barry
Barry4council@windstream.net
704-292-5869

How do you plan to work with other local leaders in surrounding municipalities to plan for future growth and infrastructure in western Union County, if at all?

As a member of the current council, I am serving as the liaison with Union County Public Works. In this role, I brought a direct and intentional communication strategy to the process. We built relationships that enable the town to work closely with county officials on issues facing Weddington. It is imperative that Weddington officials continue to build broad and trusting relationships with all organizations whose decisions impact what happens in our town. For example, we should play a role and have a relationship with the following organizations: Union County commissioners, Union County Public Works, Charlotte Area Regional Transportation Authority, Western Union County Coalition, Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, Providence Volunteer Fire Department, Stallings Volunteer Fire Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, etc. There are two areas I think Weddington leaders need to engage quickly. First is with Union County EMS to work to relocate an ambulance into the town of Weddington. Second, I believe infrastructure development (water and sewer) is of paramount concern, and Weddington officials need to engage in a deliberate process to create a strategy for resolving local water/sewer and transportation issues.

What roles have you played in local organizations or groups that will lend to your work on Weddington Town Council?

I have served on a number of local, state and national boards where I have provided leadership. Responsibilities included financial oversight, long-range planning, organizational management and strategic planning. With each organization I was involved in some form of long-range visioning discovery and implementation process. The following list represents a few of the organizations I have been involved with.
Local: Lake Providence Home Owners’ Association – treasurer; Mecklenburg – Union Planning Organization alternate; Western Union County Coalition – member; and Union County Transportation Committee – alternate.
Industry Organizations: North Carolina Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – state board member; and Association Of Advanced Life Underwriting – national board of directors.
Civic: Siler Presbyterian Church – served as both a deacon and ruling elder; and Push America – board member and national president, philanthropic project raising money and awareness for programs enriching the lives of the developmentally disabled.

The Weddington Corners shopping center is the town’s main hub for commercial development. What steps would you take, if elected, to bring in new businesses and retain businesses already in the center?

I do not believe town officials need to take steps to recruit businesses to the Weddington Corners shopping center. That is the role of its owners and leasing agents, not the role of government.